PEN/Faulkner is seeking candidates to join our Education Programs team for a hands-on paid internship beginning in September 2023 for a 10-month term ending in June 2024. Spanish-speaking candidates are especially encouraged to apply.
The Literary Education Programs Assistant plays a crucial role in PEN/Faulkner’s K-12 education outreach program. The primary responsibilities for this position are (a) on-site coordination of in-person Author Visits in DC schools and (b) behind-the-scenes support to facilitate high-quality programming. The intern works in close collaboration with PEN/Faulkner’s Education Programs team and will receive direct professional experience in arts administration, arts education, and literary outreach.
Responsibilities:
● Assist with Author Visit event coordination and manage Author Visits in-person, including student engagement, partnership building with schools/educators, and relationship building with authors; conduct on-site data collection for each visit. This requires independent travel to/from school locations across Washington, DC.
● Assist with data entry of programming surveys.
● Assist with management of book lists, author and book database, educator/community outreach, and book ordering.
● Research contemporary authors and books.
● Write and edit book synopses for outreach purposes.
● As requested, support Writing Workshops and the Writers in Residence program.
● Conduct professional email correspondence with external constituents, including educators, community partners, and occasionally authors.
● Support general administrative tasks and additional responsibilities as required.
The ideal candidate will possess the following:
● Excellent organization and time management skills.
● Superb attention to detail.
● Willingness to take risks, accept feedback, and grow.
● Drive to work independently and as part of a team, excitement to pitch in on all assignments, and comfort with detail-oriented remote office work.
● Ability to independently problem solve; must be able to react quickly to concerns or issues that may arise in settings where PEN/Faulkner staff are not present.
● Demonstrated flexibility to accommodate changing educator/school needs, occasionally on short notice.
● Experience working with youth and/or other community work, preferably with Black, Latinx, and/or low-income populations.
● Able to travel to schools in neighborhoods throughout Washington, DC for school-based, in-person programming.
● Reliable wifi and technology access with audio and video capabilities. High level of proficiency with the GSuite platform (Gmail, GDocs, GCal, etc.). Ability to navigate online platforms (Microsoft Teams, Zoom).
● Can commit to a nine-month contract of 19 hours a week for 33 total weeks between September 20, 2023 and May 31, 2024. Exceptions (which are unpaid) include:
○ November 20-24
○ December 25-29
○ January 1-5
○ April 15-19
● Work schedule is as follows:
○ Tuesdays, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
○ Wednesdays, 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
○ Thursdays, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Candidates are required to pass a state-mandated background check and a drug/alcohol test, as required by our partner schools.
During the ten months, the intern receives:
● An opportunity to help young people across multiple grade levels develop writing skills and a love for literature.
● Direct experience with the ins-and-outs of program administration at a renowned literary nonprofit.
● A supportive environment in which to learn and grow.
● Free tickets to PEN/Faulkner’s Literary Conversations and to the PEN/Faulkner Awards Ceremony.
● An hourly rate of $20.00 paid every two weeks, plus allowed leave available after 30 days. Three hours of leave are accrued for every 87 hours worked.
How to apply:
Submit a resume demonstrating your experience with young people/community populations, along with a cover letter and contact information for three references to education@penfaulkner.org. Put “Literary Education Programs Assistant” in the subject line. We will only contact references for final candidates. Applications will be accepted until Friday, September 8 at midnight EST.
Your cover letter should connect your skills and experiences directly to this opportunity. What makes you ideal for this position? In what ways will your skills and prior experiences contribute to our education work? We receive an abundance of applications that describe a passion for reading since childhood or a personal love of writing—tell us instead how your professional background can help PEN/Faulkner’s Education Programs achieve its goals.
About:
PEN/Faulkner’s mission is to champion the breadth and power of fiction in America.
PEN/Faulkner is dedicated to the idea that fiction creates empathy within and among communities and advances civil discourse. American culture thrives when stories from diverse perspectives enrich our lives. To further these ideals, we cultivate a vibrant landscape for writers and readers of fiction both locally and nationally.
PEN/Faulkner is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer, and strongly encourages persons of color; females; LGBTQIA persons; and persons with disabilities to apply to available positions.